A Prospective Study of Weight Change and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight is rising in the United States despite increased knowledge about the hazards of overweight and increased spending on weight loss programs. Although approximately 40% of adult women and 25% of adult men in the United States report trying to lose weight at any given time, most appear to be gaining weight. According to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the proportion of overweight persons increased from 25% to 33% between 1980 and 1991.¹ Over the past 15 years, the mean body weight of US adults (aged 20-74 years) increased by 3.6 kg (7.6 lb).